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The author did a bit of "reimagining" with her translation of "The Odyssey" as well, which I own and was very excited about at the time I acquired it. In fact,

The author did a bit of "reimagining" with her translation of "The Odyssey" as well, which I own and was very excited about at the time I acquired it. In fact, I bought the book, walked a few blocks, and attended a lecture she gave at Vassar College. I was on board with her lecture, but disappointed once I began to delve into her translation. She has a wonderful ear, and her translation of "The Odyssey" is a pleasure to read. Unfortunately though, in my opinion, she had a bit of an agenda. Part of it she detailed at the lecture, and I found that part admirable. She said that previous (male) translators had interpolated their own editorializing: specifically, adding little misogynistic characterizations that are not found in the homeric text. She, unsurprisingly, steered clear of all that, and to hear her tell it restored Homer. But when I began to read her translation, and then compared passages to the ancient Greek, I found that she gave her own characterizations to both Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, which were neither in Homer nor particularly flattering. Disclosure: I don't read ancient Greek. But her translation is a line-by-line translation, so it is possible to find the exact line, use scholarly online translators of Homer, and see how a particular passage, or adjective (or whatever) translates literally. In taking a close look, I saw that she availed herself to diminishing both Odysseus and Telemachus. I'm not the only one to notice this. Moreover, she interpolated sympathy for "victims" where there really isn't any in Homer: to wit, the servant women strung up at the end. It made me very sad to see this, because she was an intelligent and compelling lecturer; and, as I said, her verse reads beautifully. But, she's not exactly a reliable translator.

karaterobot 3y ago
> Disclosure: I don't read ancient Greek. But her translation is a line-by-line translation, so it is possible to find the exact line, use scholarly online translators of Homer, and see how a particular passage, or adjective (or whatever) translates literally. Is that a reliable way to establish the original meaning of the text, though? Literal translations of idiomatic texts are often less "true" than a subjective interpretation. The translator's job is insanely difficult, likely impossible.
- mariodiana 3y ago
  I appreciate you asking. I'm going by memory from several years ago, but if the Greek word used to describe Telemachus means something like "presence of mind," to hint at the boy growing up to be a man worthy of such a father, and then the translated words chosen are things like "whined" and so forth, you tell me. --- Edit: Here is an essay in the "Bryn Mawr Classical Review," which touches on the issue of the slave girls killed at the end. Look for the paragraph that begins: "This brings me to the episode often discussed by Wilson, the killing of the slaves in Odyssey 22." This particular essay doesn't touch on what I've said about Odysseus and Telemachus, but it does touch on the fact that her own opinion of things influences the translation. https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.10.58 https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.10.58 --- Edit: And here is a review in the "London Review of Books," which touches on what I said: "This makes him sound more of a brat and much less of a would-be hero than he does in the Greek." https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v40/n08/colin-burrow/light-through-the-fog https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v40/n08/colin-burrow/light-t...
  - coldtea 3y ago
    >but if the Greek word used to describe Telemachus means something like "presence of mind," to hint at the boy growing up to be a man worthy of such a father, and then the translated words chosen are things like "whined" and so forth, you tell me. The word used for Telemachus could be translated as "prudent" and "judicious". In the way it was perceived for what a kid should be growing up in the times, we could also call it "well rounded".
  - AlbertCory 3y ago
    That's a dealbreaker for me. regardless of how we feel about "victims," in the ancient world they had no sympathy at all. The thought didn't even occur to them.
    - pvg 3y ago
      in the ancient world they had no sympathy at all You can disabuse yourself of this misconception by reading some of the works in any translation.
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karaterobot 3y ago

> Disclosure: I don't read ancient Greek. But her translation is a line-by-line translation, so it is possible to find the exact line, use scholarly online translators of Homer, and see how a particular passage, or adjective (or whatever) translates literally. Is that a reliable way to establish the original meaning of the text, though? Literal translations of idiomatic texts are often less "true" than a subjective interpretation. The translator's job is insanely difficult, likely impossible.

mariodiana 3y ago
I appreciate you asking. I'm going by memory from several years ago, but if the Greek word used to describe Telemachus means something like "presence of mind," to hint at the boy growing up to be a man worthy of such a father, and then the translated words chosen are things like "whined" and so forth, you tell me. --- Edit: Here is an essay in the "Bryn Mawr Classical Review," which touches on the issue of the slave girls killed at the end. Look for the paragraph that begins: "This brings me to the episode often discussed by Wilson, the killing of the slaves in Odyssey 22." This particular essay doesn't touch on what I've said about Odysseus and Telemachus, but it does touch on the fact that her own opinion of things influences the translation. https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.10.58 https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.10.58 --- Edit: And here is a review in the "London Review of Books," which touches on what I said: "This makes him sound more of a brat and much less of a would-be hero than he does in the Greek." https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v40/n08/colin-burrow/light-through-the-fog https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v40/n08/colin-burrow/light-t...
- coldtea 3y ago
  >but if the Greek word used to describe Telemachus means something like "presence of mind," to hint at the boy growing up to be a man worthy of such a father, and then the translated words chosen are things like "whined" and so forth, you tell me. The word used for Telemachus could be translated as "prudent" and "judicious". In the way it was perceived for what a kid should be growing up in the times, we could also call it "well rounded".
- AlbertCory 3y ago
  That's a dealbreaker for me. regardless of how we feel about "victims," in the ancient world they had no sympathy at all. The thought didn't even occur to them.
  - pvg 3y ago
    in the ancient world they had no sympathy at all You can disabuse yourself of this misconception by reading some of the works in any translation.

deleted 3y ago

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